[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          NAKAMURA COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, today the Washington state Congressional 
delegation introduced bills in the House and in the Senate to honor a 
fallen hero, William Kenzo Nakamura, by designating the Seattle federal 
courthouse in his honor. This brave soldier fought in Italy during 
World War II, and he died valiantly protecting his battalion. The day 
he died, Mr. Nakamura had already risked his life and saved his combat 
team by disarming an enemy machine gun stronghold. Mr. Nakamura should 
have received the Medal of Honor for this act of bravery, but he did 
not.
  Even as this man's family was held in an internment camp in Idaho, he 
volunteered for duty in the United States military, and he headed to 
Italy to serve his country. After his heroic and selfless deeds, Mr. 
Nakamura was posthumously eligible for the Medal of Honor, but in World 
War II the Army did not award Japanese-Americans the Medal of Honor. I 
was pleased that earlier this year that twenty-two veterans, in similar 
circumstances to and including Mr. Nakamura, received Medals of Honor 
for their brave service in World War II. These men and their families 
waited too long for proper recognition and appreciation, and these 
honors are well deserved.
  Though military heroes are often given medals for their service, the 
people of Washington state would like to extend a special tribute to 
Mr. Nakamura by naming the federal courthouse in Seattle in his honor. 
This action has not only the support of the entire Washington 
congressional delegation, but of local communities, veteran and 
military retiree organizations, and by Medal of Honor recipients in the 
Senate, my friends Daniel Inouye and Bob Kerrey. To this outpouring, I 
add my support and commitment to seeing this designation passed through 
the Senate and acted into law.

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